Woodland, CA Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

City of Woodland Building Division handles projects inside city limits. Unincorporated Yolo County properties use Yolo County Building Inspection Services.

Department

Building Division, Community Development Department, City of Woodland

Address

300 First Street, Woodland, CA 95695

Phone

530-661-5820; 530-661-5817

Email

cdd-building@cityofwoodland.gov

Website

https://www.cityofwoodland.gov/259/Building-Division

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Call the Building Division or visit 300 First Street to confirm permit type, scope, and required submittals.
2. Obtain the correct permit application packet, either contractor or owner-builder.
3. Complete the application and include required plans, approvals, and declarations.
4. Submit the package in person during office hours or by PDF email to cdd-building@cityofwoodland.gov.
5. Pay permit and plan review charges at submission or issuance as applicable.
6. Address plan check comments, complete final corrections, and obtain final inspection clearance.

Typical processing time: First-round plan check comments are about 15 days on average, subsequent submittals are often 5-10 days, and ADU or JADU permits must be approved or denied within 60 days.

Source: Building Division, Community Development Department, City of Woodland

General Requirements

Permits are required for new construction, demolition, additions changing conditioned area or volume, new roofs, furnace and AC work, water heaters, vinyl siding, new front doors, bathroom and kitchen remodels, and plumbing or electrical work beyond basic fixture repair.

Required Documents

• Building permit application, contractor or owner-builder form
• Project valuation and project description
• Plans and record drawings
• Air quality or environmental forms where applicable
• PG&E release for demolition work
• JADU and housing deed restriction and recorder filing documents where applicable
• Owner-builder declarations and signatures

Permit validity

12 months from issuance, with a one-time extension of up to 180 days if requested before expiration.

Building code

2022 CBC, CPC, CMC, CEC, CRC, California Green Building Code, and California Existing Building Code, with local amendments.

Owner-builder

Owner-builders are allowed, but the property owner assumes legal responsibility for compliance, supervision, and inspection correction if work fails inspection.

Contractor requirements

The city expects a California licensed contractor for many projects and recommends professional hiring; owner-builder use requires verification and documentation.

Fees

Minimum permit fee

Minimum over-the-counter processing charge of $58, with a $25 minimum shown for certain production or home process categories

Plan check fee

Plan check is assessed at plan review submission and is tied to the building inspection fee as a percentage with minimums and thresholds in the schedule.

Permit fee formula

Building permit fees use project valuation, building size, and fixed-rate schedule inputs based on ICC valuation.

Reinspection fee

The general Building Division schedule includes a failure-to-prepare, cancel, or reinspection fee.

Payment note

Plan check fees are paid at plan review submission and permit fees at issuance. The city links payments through its Pay My Bill system.

Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule.

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

• Retaining walls less than 3 feet high and 3 feet from property lines and structures
• Storage sheds less than 120 square feet
• Decks less than 30 inches above grade
• Flat concrete work except driveways
• Residential window, roofing, or siding projects in some contexts listed by the city as no-permit examples

Important: Permit-exempt work may still be subject to zoning standards such as setbacks, lot coverage, and height, or to permits from other departments, utilities, encroachment, or fire review.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• 530-661-5817 (phone)

Scheduling deadline

Requests made before 3:30 PM the prior day typically schedule for the next business day.

Inspection hours

Monday-Friday, 7:00 AM-4:00 PM.

Typical inspection sequence: Typical milestones include foundation and infrastructure checks before backfill, then concrete, piping, paving, electrical, and specialty inspections before work proceeds.

Additional Resources

• Building code: 2022 CBC, CPC, CMC, CEC, CRC, California Green Building Code, and California Existing Building Code, with local amendments.
• Verify contractor license: CSLB License Lookup
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• Work That Requires a Permit
• Extensions and Expirations
• Permit Submission Forms and Fee Schedule
• License lookup guide: California Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: California Homeowner-Contractor Agreement

Other cities in Yolo County